$LOW

Evercore raised its 2026 home improvement category growth estimate to 2% from 1%, citing stronger first-half results. It said the Home Improvement Lead Indicator fell to 2.8% in June, while first-half Census category sales rose 3.9%. Evercore kept its second-half view unchanged and prefers SHW and HD, with Wayfair as higher-beta.

The article lists multiple US federal recalls, citing the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the FDA. It covers recalled items sold via Amazon, Target, Walmart, Lowe’s, and others, including BBRKIN biometric gun safes, Cuisinart grills and wire brushes, Target Up & Up baby wipes, and Lupin Pharmaceuticals prednisolone acetate eye drops. Regulators urge consumers to check model numbers and follow refund or repair instructions.

Home Depot (HD) and Lowe’s (LOW) are compared on recent operating metrics. Home Depot reported about a 12% EBIT margin for the quarter ended May 3, 2026, and noted a May 1, 2026 partnership with Hertz. Lowe’s recorded 33% gross margin for the quarter ended May 1, 2026, while completing workforce reductions in North Carolina. The article cites company filings and discusses valuation multiples.

MarketWatch reports that expectations of renewed U.S.-Iran tensions after President Trump said the cease-fire was over pushed up West Texas Intermediate crude and gasoline futures. Energy stocks rose less than consumer-facing sectors. Airlines, online travel, home builders, Home Depot and Lowe’s fell, while fertilizer makers gained. The 10-year Treasury yield also rose.

A July dividend-focused article highlights three S&P Dividend Aristocrats: McDonald’s (MCD) with a ~2.71% yield and Q1 2026 EPS $2.83 on $6.52B revenue; AbbVie (ABBV) with ~2.71% yield, Q1 2026 revenue $15B and raised 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $14.08–$14.28; and Lowe’s (LOW) with a $1.25 quarterly dividend and FY2026 adjusted EPS guidance $12.25–$12.75.

A “halftime scorecard” on three Dividend Aristocrats says Nordson (NDSN) is up 25.5% YTD and raised its quarterly dividend to $0.82; Q2 fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS was $2.86 on $740.85M revenue, and full-year guidance was lifted to $2.93–$3.01B sales and $11.30–$11.80 adjusted EPS. Aflac (AFL) rose 6.3% YTD and raised its quarterly dividend to $0.61. Lowe’s (LOW) fell 8.6% YTD but raised its quarterly dividend to $1.25 and beat earnings.

Allan Small of Allan Small Financial Group told BNN Bloomberg that the S&P 500 is near all-time highs but leadership is uneven, with semiconductors stronger while some Mag 7 names have sold off. He expects periodic pullbacks (historically 5%-10% a few times yearly) and urged diversification. The article lists hedge-fund favored long-term stocks, including Medtronic (FDA 510(k) clearance for Nellcor Nell-EQ) and Lowe’s (AI “Material Lists” for Pro quoting).

The SNPD ETF (NYSEARCA:SNPD) screens for companies with at least 10 years of dividend growth, rather than the 25-year Dividend Aristocrats standard. The fund trades around $29 and has returned about 15.6% over the past year. Its main holdings include J&J, P&G, Coca-Cola, and Lowe’s; KO and J&J reported strong cash flow and dividend coverage, while PepsiCo’s Q1 operating cash flow was $41M versus a $1.97B payout.

After the Fed held the federal funds rate steady in a unanimous June 17 decision, Home Depot and Lowe’s shares fell 2.5%–3% by market close, then largely recovered by June 18. The article links the move to higher-for-longer mortgage rates (30-year fixed 6.47%) weighing on housing turnover. Home Depot and Lowe’s forecast ~1% same-store sales growth this fiscal year; Home Depot Q1 2026 revenue was $41.8B and Lowe’s fiscal Q1 sales $23.1B.

Vagell Margrethe R (EVP, Supply Chain) sold 2,500 shares of LOWES COMPANIES INC (LOW) at $223.83 ($0.56M total) on 2026-06-18.